The Good Prince Eider

John Hershey is one of those consistent birders. He has been covering the Vischer’s Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve in Clifton Park for years; very reliably I might add.

As happens, when you have a reliable, consistent observer covering the same area over time, he will find some nice surprises. And he has – one after another.

So, I was not too surprised myself when I got a call that John had come across yet another great bird – a KING EIDER! that he found from the north side of the Mohawk River at Vischer’s Ferry. This is a young one, not even one year old. When he matures, he has a lot to look forward to. The adult male King Eider is one of the most beautiful ducks out there.

They are abundant in Iceland and to a lesser extent found from Greenland through Arctic Canada. They are the source of eider down – the fluffy warm feathers that the female lines her nest with to insulate the eggs and young against the cold northern spring.
It was already too late for me to get up there before dark, so I put it off to the next day.

I arrived to find a half-dozen other birders already there, scopes set up pointing to a dark duck on the calm waters.

Sure enough there he was, a rather less-than-spectacular black and white duck diving periodically, affording clear views of this king in waiting.

This weekend I’ll be out to the deep blue sea again. A pelagic birding trip in December! Yikes – what am I thinking? The object is to see those winter seabirds before getting out there is all that more challenging. Intrigued? Join me and the dozens or so other adventure birders on a fast, warm, safe boat that is dedicated to our birding success. There’s still room on board. Contact: http://www.paulagics.com/ for more info. But move hearty m’lads and ladies. Time and Tide wait for no one.

GOOD NEWS: THE BOAT TRIP HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2nd. We’re supposed to have better weather for birds and birders on Sunday.

Big Year Update: The total stands at 300+. Remember the goal was 300. Anything above that is superfulous. But, I’m still keeping track and I’ll post the grand total at the end of the year. Stay tuned.